Tired of stepping in steaming piles of poop first thing in the morning?  Then learning how to crate train your dog could be the solution. I’ll show you how in 5 simple steps.

Step One – Get The Crate Size Right

Choosing the right size crate is important. Make sure your dog can stand up, sleep, and stretch out comfortably.

He should also be able to move around in it easily.  You want your dog to have just enough room to be comfortable, but not enough room to poop.

Dogs don’t poop where they eat and sleep.

If you want your dog to eventually be in his crate for a few hours at a time during the day, at a minimum, he must be able to stretch his body comfortably.

However, if the crate is too big, he’ll have room to pee in it on one end and sleep and eat on the other – which totally defeats the purpose of teaching him to hold his bladder.

Step Two – Introducing Your Dog To His Crate

Introduce your dog to his crate slowly.  Put the crate in the family room, in your bedroom, or any place where you and/or your family gather frequently so that you dog doesn’t feel isolated.

You want him to associate pleasure with going into his crate, so place treats or favorite toys inside. If necessary, gently encourage your dog to investigate. Only close the door if he goes inside of his own volition and you are absolutely sure he is relaxed and happy.

Stay in the room with him for about 15 minutes then open the door and call him out.  It’s important that he never sees his crate as a punishing device.  Once he’s comfortable with the 15 minutes, gradually increase the time that he stays in his crate.

Step Three – Feed Your Dog In His Crate

Remember, dogs don’t poop where they eat or sleep.  So, if you feed your dog in his crate, he’ll associate it with being the place he’s supposed to eat – not poop.  You might need to put the food near the door to begin with and gradually move it back.

Leave your dog inside the crate for a while after he has stopped eating and increase this time to around 20 minutes.

Step Four – Always Use Positive Reinforcement

Once you’ve been able to get your dog to go in his crate by coaxing him with food, toys, and treats, the next step is to get him conditioned to go in on a voice command, which should be something simple like “Go crate.”

When your dog obeys, give him a treat and praise him lavishly.  Positive reinforcement is a must!

Step Five – How to Deal With Dog Separation Anxiety

If your dog doesn’t mind you leaving him alone you can crate him, leave the room, and gradually build up the amount of time you leave him in his cage.

However, if you have a dog with separation anxiety issues, you’ll need to come in the room more frequently to reassure him.  Patience is important when dealing with dogs that have separation anxiety as they can get extremely anxious and will eventually refuse to go in the crate, no matter how many treats you put in there.

Remember, never force your dog into his crate and do not leave him in it for more than a few hours at a time.  If you plan on crating your dog overnight, make sure you let him out a couple of times to go potty before you go to bed.